The Community of Life

  Growing up on a farmstead, we had chickens, sheep for 4-H in the summer, lots of cats and dogs, lots of space to run and play and explore. My sister-in-law Mishel who grew up in Albuquerque, commented on flying in to Fargo Moorhead for Cyndie's graduation on how all the forests were lined up nicely in North Dakota surrounding the farms. We call them shelter belts, I explained, they were planted on the plains. Our family also had over an acre of garden which we participated in a farmer's market in town. I can't remember when or from whom I was told, but the spirituality of Estonia, where my father's family came from, sees a spirit associated with every living thing, so even taking a tomato from the plant we give thanks to the plant for its fruit. I don't remember my dad doing this at all and don't remember doing it much myself, but it sticks in the back of my brain. It was before the Enlightenment that most people, even Christians, saw supernatural forces and spirits throughout the world and a part of our lives. I believe it was Francis Bacon who lived around 1600 who helped created the scientific method, but also argued against anything special about the planet or animals and plants, they don't have spirits or souls, the world is just made up of inert materials to be categorized and used by humans. This really helped to separate the humans from the hummus. Separate us from the world surrounding us. 

Though most, or all of us, have moved here, or our ancestors did, because of the beauty of the North Shore, the trails, the lakes, the birds, the wildlife, and sunsets; our community doesn't rely on the surrounding forest and lake to meet our day-to-day needs. Our homes, our transportation (cars and gas), our food, our clothing, just about anything we need, comes from someplace else. There are exceptions for community supported agriculture and local fishing, but they only serve to supplement our diets. This has allowed us, as Western civilization, to come in and over-harvest the furs, the trees, the fish, and mine minerals with not too much regard to the local community of life. Though we are working on figuring this out, as the deer come to our yards to eat the hostad flowers and other plants, the bears eat apples from my neighbor's trees, and we had a den of foxes just beyond the parking lot here. 

I have hopes, small and growing, that those who see themselves as separate from nature or those who believe all things none-human are for the use and discardment as we see fit will soon have a literal come-to-Jesus moment. Just as Paul who violently persecuted the early church and Jesus came to him on the road to Damascus and changed his heart and life, I hope that those who deny the climate crisis and deny the worth and blessings of all life will soon see the fires, the floods, the storms, and the heatwaves as a sign of humans violently persecuting the world and all non-human life and change their hearts and minds and become great advocates for God's creation. (I know, I shouldn't hold my breath, but we are a faith of miracles and hope)

In South Dakota, the state flower is a Prairie Rose and it only grows in native soil. A college researcher tried to find out why and discovered the native soil has 24 different species of ants while most farm fields had only 5 to 10. I guess that it wasn't just one thing that allowed the prairie rose to survive and thrive but it was the whole community of life that supports it, not just the PH balance of the soil, certain minerals or the right mix of clay and organic material. Not to mention the absence of pesticides and herbicides that pollute the land, all life, and the water there and down river would go a long way to helping the prairies revive and thrive once again.  

It is the parable of the lost sheep and lost coin. In God's kingdom, there must be wholeness, even missing one part of the hundred can throw things off balance. What if these weren't just metaphors for people and for heaven? Can we include the endangered species into this parable as well, to seek out and help them return and thrive? Seek out and celebrate when they are found? Can we celebrate the return of the wolf back into the 48 states which was driven out, seen only as a competitor to human's interests and commerce? 

It is truly amazing when we learn that trees that communicate and help each other, how the forest lives in a balance we are just truly discovering (as Western Civilization, for our Anishanabe siblings have longed learned this and have sought to work within this balance). It is truly awesome how each plant, animal, insect, and microbe live in harmony (shalom) and even have enough space for humans if we just had ears to listen, eyes to see, and a wise and discerning heart. 

The community of life is not humans first and only some humans as Jeremiah the prophet show us, that only leads to destruction for all life. The community of life is living in harmony with the ecosystem which surrounds us; being respectful and careful that all God's critters have a place in the choir; and caring for, nurturing the blessings of life that surround us. Let us humble ourselves so we may be a part of God's creation, not apart from life. Let us continue to strive and see with hearts unclouded the ways of nature so all life may be honored. Let us praise God, creator of the heavens and earth, for all life as the world sings with us, if we have ears to hear.